EA has confirmed the closure of EA Sports UFC 3 on February 17, 2025, marking yet another title set to lose its online services. This announcement adds to a growing list of games from the publisher slated for shutdown in 2025, following a year of widespread closures throughout 2024.
EA’s 2025 Shutdown Schedule
So far, 10 games are scheduled to be shut down in 2025, nine of which are planned for January alone.
- Rory McIlroy PGA Tour – January 16, 2025
- The Simpsons: Tapped Out – January 24, 2025
- January 29, 2025:
- Blood & Glory: Immortals
- Contract Killer: Sniper
- Deer Hunter Classic
- Dino Hunter: Deadly Shores
- Eternity Warriors 4
- Frontline Commando 2
- Frontline Commando: D-Day
- EA Sports UFC 3 – February 17, 2025
EA Sports UFC 3: A Brief History
Launched in 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, EA Sports UFC 3 received praise for its gameplay innovations but was criticized for its controversial microtransactions. The game relied heavily on online features, which will no longer be accessible once the servers are deactivated. While fans may be disappointed by this closure, alternatives like UFC 4 (2020) and UFC 5 (2023) remain available, with the latter still receiving significant updates.
The Bigger Picture
EA’s approach to sunsetting older titles has become a recurring trend, with the publisher winding down support for games once they become less commercially viable. These closures highlight the fleeting nature of online services, a reality that players must consider when investing in live-service games.
For those looking to mitigate the impact of such shutdowns, EA’s subscription services like EA Play or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offer access to their latest titles within months of release, reducing the need for outright purchases. However, this solution may not fully address concerns from players who prefer to own their games outright.
As EA continues to assess its portfolio, gamers should remain aware that even current titles like UFC 4 and UFC 5 will eventually face a similar fate. The digital age offers unprecedented access to gaming content, but it also underscores the impermanence of online features that define many modern titles.
Stay tuned for updates as EA rolls out its plans for the rest of 2025 and beyond.
